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Migration Period Monday - Siliqua Fractionals - Vandals + Gepids - The History - Fall of Rome
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<p>[QUOTE="Roerbakmix, post: 7581772, member: 100731"]I know little to nothing about the Vandals, but I do know a thing or two about sceatta's, especially Frisian. Forgeries are scarce, imitations however are abundant (especially so for the Series E, the 'porcupines'). I actively look for both forgeries (I have found only one so far) and imitations - however, you should realize that while mints were strictly regularized in the Roman era, there were probably no official mints in the Merovingian era. </p><p><br /></p><p>Broadly, sceatta's are divided in three period: the primary (c. 680-715 AD), secondary (715-740) and tertiary phase (740-780?), largely based on hoard evidence. Yet, this distinction doesn't cover it all: in my collection, I've two mules of the Series E that combine a obverse of the primary phase with a reverse of the secondary (one specimen) and the tertiary (the other specimen) phase. </p><p><br /></p><p>Furthermore, the distinction between the sceatta-phase and the merovingian-denier phase (so to say) isn't really that clear either. Some coins, for example the series G and the Hexagon (categorized by Abramson as 'the orphans'), are rather similar to merovingian deniers. I haven't yet found a convincing article on how to make this distinction. </p><p><br /></p><p>Anyway, time to share some sceatta's <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>First, this specimen was added only yesterday. I haven't yet found a similar crude (and probably immitative) specimen. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306563[/ATTACH]</p><p>EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series G)</p><p>Obv: Crude and somewhat geometric bust to the right, with the typical oval almond shaped eye, but without the cross before the face. A group of four pellets before and behind the long neck.</p><p>Rev: Four cross-pommee around a central pellet-within-annulet, all within dotted square border</p><p>Weight: 0.9g; Ø:13.5mm. 0.91 gram prior to restoration</p><p><br /></p><p>It serves as an upgrade for my series G, which is probably a bit more 'official':</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306565[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Next, the series E. This is such a diverse group! It has been extensively studied by Metcalf and Op den Velde in 2009-2010. Of the 23 sceatta's in Series E in my collection, only one is a fourree, combining the VICO obverse with the var. G reverse:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306566[/ATTACH]</p><p>If you look closely to the reverse (note the folded part at 12 o clock), you can see how this specimen was crafted: two sheets of thin silver, with a sheet of bronze in between, after which the coin was cut. </p><p><br /></p><p>One could say that in the primary phase, things were more or less well regulated. Note for example this terrific series E plumed bird var L:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306567[/ATTACH]</p><p>... and this (probably immitative) specimen:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306568[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Yet, this variety, also from the primary phase (series E, var G2)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306569[/ATTACH]</p><p>is crudely engraved. Also, note the die-break in the 'beak' of the 'porcupine': this is the only sceatta with a die break. Not sure what it indicates, but it's interesting nonetheless. </p><p><br /></p><p>Imitations occurred in Anglia as well. Compare this base (and somewhat crude) specimen of Series J type 37:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306570[/ATTACH] </p><p>with this this (though somewhat worn) specimen of good silver:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306572[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, the 'orphan', the Hexagon sceatta.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1306573[/ATTACH]</p><p>The Franeker hoard, found in the 1800s, contained a large proportion of these Hexagon sceatta's, together with a very large number of (mint-state) Series E sceatta's. This is probably the reason these coins were categorized as sceatta's. Yet, they are usually larger (13-14 mm) and somewhat heavy (1.2g or so), while sceatta's are usually about 10-11 mm and 0.9-1.1g or so. What to make of it? </p><p><br /></p><p>While there is some literature on sceatta's (though it would probably fill only one to two bookshelves), the literature on the Merovingian deniers is outdated and largely non-English (usually French).[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Roerbakmix, post: 7581772, member: 100731"]I know little to nothing about the Vandals, but I do know a thing or two about sceatta's, especially Frisian. Forgeries are scarce, imitations however are abundant (especially so for the Series E, the 'porcupines'). I actively look for both forgeries (I have found only one so far) and imitations - however, you should realize that while mints were strictly regularized in the Roman era, there were probably no official mints in the Merovingian era. Broadly, sceatta's are divided in three period: the primary (c. 680-715 AD), secondary (715-740) and tertiary phase (740-780?), largely based on hoard evidence. Yet, this distinction doesn't cover it all: in my collection, I've two mules of the Series E that combine a obverse of the primary phase with a reverse of the secondary (one specimen) and the tertiary (the other specimen) phase. Furthermore, the distinction between the sceatta-phase and the merovingian-denier phase (so to say) isn't really that clear either. Some coins, for example the series G and the Hexagon (categorized by Abramson as 'the orphans'), are rather similar to merovingian deniers. I haven't yet found a convincing article on how to make this distinction. Anyway, time to share some sceatta's :) First, this specimen was added only yesterday. I haven't yet found a similar crude (and probably immitative) specimen. [ATTACH=full]1306563[/ATTACH] EARLY MEDIEVAL, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Sceatta (Series G) Obv: Crude and somewhat geometric bust to the right, with the typical oval almond shaped eye, but without the cross before the face. A group of four pellets before and behind the long neck. Rev: Four cross-pommee around a central pellet-within-annulet, all within dotted square border Weight: 0.9g; Ø:13.5mm. 0.91 gram prior to restoration It serves as an upgrade for my series G, which is probably a bit more 'official': [ATTACH=full]1306565[/ATTACH] Next, the series E. This is such a diverse group! It has been extensively studied by Metcalf and Op den Velde in 2009-2010. Of the 23 sceatta's in Series E in my collection, only one is a fourree, combining the VICO obverse with the var. G reverse: [ATTACH=full]1306566[/ATTACH] If you look closely to the reverse (note the folded part at 12 o clock), you can see how this specimen was crafted: two sheets of thin silver, with a sheet of bronze in between, after which the coin was cut. One could say that in the primary phase, things were more or less well regulated. Note for example this terrific series E plumed bird var L: [ATTACH=full]1306567[/ATTACH] ... and this (probably immitative) specimen: [ATTACH=full]1306568[/ATTACH] Yet, this variety, also from the primary phase (series E, var G2) [ATTACH=full]1306569[/ATTACH] is crudely engraved. Also, note the die-break in the 'beak' of the 'porcupine': this is the only sceatta with a die break. Not sure what it indicates, but it's interesting nonetheless. Imitations occurred in Anglia as well. Compare this base (and somewhat crude) specimen of Series J type 37: [ATTACH=full]1306570[/ATTACH] with this this (though somewhat worn) specimen of good silver: [ATTACH=full]1306572[/ATTACH] Finally, the 'orphan', the Hexagon sceatta. [ATTACH=full]1306573[/ATTACH] The Franeker hoard, found in the 1800s, contained a large proportion of these Hexagon sceatta's, together with a very large number of (mint-state) Series E sceatta's. This is probably the reason these coins were categorized as sceatta's. Yet, they are usually larger (13-14 mm) and somewhat heavy (1.2g or so), while sceatta's are usually about 10-11 mm and 0.9-1.1g or so. What to make of it? While there is some literature on sceatta's (though it would probably fill only one to two bookshelves), the literature on the Merovingian deniers is outdated and largely non-English (usually French).[/QUOTE]
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